The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
In an old house on Christmas Eve, the topic of ghosts is raised. A man named Douglas tells of his sister's housekeeper, whom she reported seeing apparitions a few years ago; in fact, she had recorded her experience of hers in a manuscript that he promises to send. After further questions, it is learned that the housekeeper was hired to care for two young pupils who had been left in the care of an uncle. When this man hired the housekeeper, he gave her implied instructions that he should deal with any problem and never bother him.
The housekeeper's story begins the day she arrives in her new position as hers. The accusations of her - Miles and Flora - are perfect children who apparently would never cause anyone any problems. She is very fond of them despite the fact that little Miles has been discharged from her school. Discussing this fact, the housekeeper and Mrs. Grose, the housekeeper, decide that little Miles was simply too good for a regular school.
The housekeeper loves her position of her and her children, and she secretly wishes her handsome employer to see how well she is doing. Shortly thereafter, she notices the shape of a strange man some distance away. She wonders if the big country house holds any secrets. But some time later, she sees the same face outside the dining room window. When she describes this face to Mrs. Grose, she feels it was that of Peter Quint, a former servant who has been dead for about a year.
Later the housekeeper meets another apparition in the guise of a woman. After further consultations with Ms. Grose, it was determined that this was the former housekeeper of the children, Miss Jessel, who mysteriously passed away about a year ago. When the current housekeeper solicits Mrs. Grose for more information, she learns that Peter Quint and Miss Jessel were intimate with each other and, furthermore, that they both knew the children too much.
After other appearances, the housekeeper decides that the figures are returning to see the children. She then she begins to wonder if the children know of the presence of the apparitions. After observing the behavior of the children, she decides that they must be aware of the presence of these figures. She notices that once in the middle of the night little Miles is out walking on the lawn. Also, little Flora often gets up at night and looks out the window.
Returning from church early one day, the housekeeper finds Miss Jessel in the classroom. During the confrontation, the housekeeper feels that the former teacher wants to take Flora and make the child suffer with her. She is now determined to break her agreement with her employer and write to him to come.
Walking by the lake that day, she sees Miss Jessel's figure again and directs little Flora's attention to it. But the little girl sees nothing. Furthermore, the housekeeper, who is present, cannot see anything. Mrs Grose takes little Flora and goes home. The next day the housekeeper goes to the housekeeper and tells the terrible language used by the young Flora and she explains that the girl must be in contact with an evil person to use that language.
The housekeeper has little Flora taken away and that night while she is talking to little Miles, the figure of Peter Quint appears at the window. When the housekeeper confronts little Miles with this apparition, the boy collapses and the housekeeper notices that he is dead.
